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Enjoying a hot cup of coffee with a clear view of Mt. Mitchell thoughts of the Appalachian Trail began creeping back into my mind. There is probably something else I should be doing right now but past memories from the Appalachian Trail keep me anchored in place...

As I sit here watching a pot of hiker box Mac and Cheese cook atop our Summit Inn mini fridge, I'm reminded of how beautiful this trail life is. It's not about money. It's not about pride. It's about the simple act of lifting your leg one more time. Each time you take a step you are that much closer to the most important and seemingly insignificant goal of your life...

As I dig through our old blog and transfer over our post from the past, I find myself grinning. It seems my motivation three years ago is very much the same as it is now! I posted the great story below just a couple months before starting Packing It Out along the Appalachian Trail....

It all started for me in the spring of 1990 in the John Deer capital Moline, Illinois. I’m the youngest of three boys. To say we were a handful would be an understatement. My brothers and I spent large amounts of time outside either exploring the woods or testing our strength against each other...

Nature has always been a place for me to find inspiration. Whether it is paddling a familiar river or hiking a new trail, the moment I’m immersed in the outdoors my mind just seems to open. My thoughts become crisp and clear, and ideas flow uncontrollably....